Fine day at The ( no longer a ) Secret Vintage Fair.

Yesterday me and my Vintage Attitude had a stall at The Secret Vintage Fair. The location of the fair is only revealed a couple of weeks before the day so you never really know what you are signing up to but on past experience I know they are well attended and always in a fabulous building. The last one was in the Norman castle here in Colchester…you can’t get more vintage than that eh?

So this was me…right at the front and centre of The Masonic Hall in Ipswich.

My girls dresses proved popular,even being bought “to hang on the wall until I have kids”by one enthusiastic lady!

….and we were entertained by the fabulously named Testosta Tones!….get it?

Really was a lovely day at the fair and I sold lots of dresses,met lovely people and got great feedback,all of which gives me encouragement and much needed support to continue “putting my soul on display”…..yes that’s how it feels when you put your creations on sale.
….oh and of course I bought a couple of bits myself…..well it would be rude not to!

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Rhubarb On The South Bank!

This is why I love London….

Yes…it’s rhubarb,growing upside down in pots,on London’s vibrant South Bank!

Hopefully that explains better than I can. What a great way to use old windows and no matter how small your outdoor space is,you can grow something.

This is at the side of the Hayward Gallery/Festival Hall and brings a real splash of colour to the grey concrete( not my favourite buildings from the outside)
And then the National Theatre has put up a showcase of costumes you can hire with a fantastic wall print surrounding it. Love it.

The reflection spoils the photo a bit but I thought they were worth sharing. These are more reasons for loving the city and all it offers……and then we had CAKE!!……

Balthazar Russell St,Covent Garden……but you could be in Paris….and did I mention the iced lemon and ginger tea?…..

Essex Has More Than Vacuous Orange People To Offer

I live in Essex…..there I said it out loud! Ever since the Essex girl jokes and that hideous tv programme,this county has gotten bad press. I wanted to share my little haven with you. It hasn’t changed since I was a child and its where I go to soothe my soul.

Yes the beach is really this empty…..shhhh don’t tell anyone!

Rack of lamb anyone?

How I love the horses. These are on Walton Pier which you can walk to along the shore line.

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And beach huts,did I mention them. Makes me sad that so many are unused whenever I visit but they have some great names amongst them…Cushty…. Ob La De,Ob La Da…..and my favourite…Jabba The …….

…..it’s always good to be different!

And as you get back for the train home this delightful garden greets you. It used to be the home of the man who operated the crossing gates and has been preserved and lovingly tended by volunteers. Just joyful!

Oh…..and I almost forgot,Frinton is home to many wealthy retired people so you can imagine the treasure to be found in the charity shops!!!……

Just one more thing to say and my homage to Frinton On Sea is done…..Please don’t visit!..it’s mine,all mine.

Welcome Party People!

Welcome blog party people….thanks to mason bently for being hostesses with the mostest(style)! Come on in and mingle and hope you enjoy the fabulousness.

Enjoy some bubbly…..

Or a cuppa….vintage china of course……now there’s an idea for a blog…..

Long Lost Find,Wombles Would Be Proud Of.

In a recent bag of vintage swag from a very good friend I found this little treasure. A dress had been cut out and even tacked together with just the facings left to sew on. From the pattern shape and price it was clearly from the 70s and had been in a paper bag for a few decades…..well I just had to remedy that and bring it to life,didn’t I?

Then I remembered a recent charity shop find and it seemed a match made in heaven. Wombles bed sheet from 1977,colour and decade perfectly in tune.

……and the best thing of all?…..it’s my size!…Underground,overground Wombling free,The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we…..

Container City

Went to see my daughter perform on Friday eve at Trinity Buoy Wharf….yes,of course she was amazing…..and when I looked up here was this incredible structure of dwellings. Each shipping container is 40ft in length and provides an affordable live/work space in London’s Docklands.

Some great sculpture arond the site too. My favourite thing was the set of yellow steps and shapes for the feline resident to enter and exit his domain. Me and The Woo, my cat,would love this. Proper recycling and lovely river views.

Creative with Curtains

I was recently given a pile of vintage curtains by a friend who knows how much I love old fabrics. My mind begins to wander as soon as I touch these lovely old textiles….who owned them,where were they hanging,how old might they be and who made them,of course. Then the creative gene kicks in and it’s all about what shall I turn them into…..

I decided on a dress and jacket, as two of the fabrics went so well together…..now which of my ever growing stash of patterns do I use….

…..incidentally I discovered on my visit to the Biba exhibition that was in Brighton recently that this dress pattern was illustrated by Barbara Hulanicki herself….what joy!

Then it was time to decide on appliqué for the jacket. The fabric had a lot of pulled threads so I needed to place pieces carefully to cover the damage but also make it aesthetically pleasing.

I feel pleased with the result and the shop where I sell my designs,Tea and Sympathy in Colchester, were delighted with the outfit. Now what to do with the rest of the stash……